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Court delays ruling on motion for mistrial
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Posted on Feb 15 2019
The Superior Court delayed yesterday its ruling on the motion for a mistrial filed during the jury trial for an alleged rape case and will continue the hearing today.
Superior Court Presiding Judge Roberto Naraja heard the arguments of both parties in the Manolo Romolor case and said that the hearing for a mistrial will be continued at the CNMI District Court today.
The jury trial in the rape case will continue to be delayed until a ruling is reached on the motion for mistrial filed by defense lawyer Bruce Berline.
Romolor is on trial for alleged rape.
In the continuation of Romolor’s jury trial last Tuesday, Berline verbally filed a motion for a mistrial, accusing the prosecutor, assistant attorney general Teri Tenorio, of incompetence. He said Tenorio was vouching for the witness, misstating testimonies, and testifying for the witness.
Tenorio opposed the motion for a mistrial, arguing that the Commonwealth acted in good faith and that Romolor’s due process rights were not violated.
“Merely addressing the testifying witness by her legal name does not amount to vouching…Leading questions suggest to the witness the answer desired, or which embody a material fact, and may be answered by a mere negative affirmative, or which involve an answer bearing immediately the merits of the cause, and indicating to the witness a representation which will best accord with the interests of the party propounding them,” she argued.
